Since 1997, CMS has been training seniors, caregivers and beneficiary family members to review Medicare notices and Medicaid claims for any signs of fraudulent activity as well as telling them what to do if they identify suspicious activity. Now they're offering an additional $9 million in grants to organizations in order to expand the program.
To view the list of awarded grants, click here. The largest grants were given to the states with the highest levels of fraud activity - New York, Texas, Florida and California.
To learn more about the Senior Medicare Patrol, click here.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
ProMed Christmas and New Year's Closure Notice
Professional Medical will be closed on Friday, December 23 and Monday, December 26 in honor of Christmas. Orders placed by noon on Friday, December 16 will be delivered by Thursday, December 22.
Orders placed after noon on Friday, December 16 will be delivered on or after Tuesday, December 27.
We will also be closed on Friday, December 30 and Monday, January 2 in honor of the new year. Orders placed by noon on Thursday, December 22 will be delivered by Thursday, December 29. Orders placed after noon on Thursday, December 22 will be delivered on or after Tuesday, January 3.
If you have any questions at all, please contact our Customer Care team at 800.648.5190.
Orders placed after noon on Friday, December 16 will be delivered on or after Tuesday, December 27.
We will also be closed on Friday, December 30 and Monday, January 2 in honor of the new year. Orders placed by noon on Thursday, December 22 will be delivered by Thursday, December 29. Orders placed after noon on Thursday, December 22 will be delivered on or after Tuesday, January 3.
If you have any questions at all, please contact our Customer Care team at 800.648.5190.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Berwick Out as CMS Chief
The beleaguered leader of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dr. Donald Berwick, has resigned from his position after it became apparent that he would not be confirmed.
Berwick was appointed to his position by President Obama during a congressional recess in 2010 in an effort to avoid confirmation hearings and Republican opposition. The appointment was only allowed to last until the end of 2011 without confirmation from the Senate. Forty-two Republican senators have said they would not vote to confirm him.
Berwick will be replaced by Marilyn Tavenner, his principal deputy.
Before his appointment at CMS, Berwick was a pediatrician and Harvard professor. Tavenner is the former Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources and a past president of the Virgina Hospital Association.
To learn more, click here.
Berwick was appointed to his position by President Obama during a congressional recess in 2010 in an effort to avoid confirmation hearings and Republican opposition. The appointment was only allowed to last until the end of 2011 without confirmation from the Senate. Forty-two Republican senators have said they would not vote to confirm him.
Berwick will be replaced by Marilyn Tavenner, his principal deputy.
Before his appointment at CMS, Berwick was a pediatrician and Harvard professor. Tavenner is the former Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources and a past president of the Virgina Hospital Association.
To learn more, click here.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving from ProMed
Professional Medical will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, in honor of Thanksgiving.
If you placed an order with us after noon on November 18, it will be delivered to your facility during the week of November 28. We invite you to contact our Customer Care team at 800-648-5190 with any questions or concerns.
From our team to yours, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
If you placed an order with us after noon on November 18, it will be delivered to your facility during the week of November 28. We invite you to contact our Customer Care team at 800-648-5190 with any questions or concerns.
From our team to yours, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The Worldly Flavors of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving might be a distinctly American holiday, but many cultures have infused their own unique flavors into the celebration. If you have residents who immigrated from other countries or who are first-generation Americans, now is a great time to ask them about their own special Thanksgiving traditions. Below, we've listed just a few ways that international flavors are incorporated into Thanksgiving celebrations.
- Africa: The turkey is typically heavily spiced and couscous might take the place of mashed potatoes. Collard greens with bacon is a popular side dish.
- China: Many Chinese families celebrate Thanksgiving by going out for dim sum and choose bao, soft dough-filled buns, over the traditional pumpkin pie. Roast duck is also a common dish on Chinese Thanksgiving tables.
- France: Roasted guinea hens are a nod to the traditional cuisine of rural France.
- Hawaii: Thanksgiving turkey is frequently cooked in an imu, an in-ground oven, or marinated in the Chinese Char Siu style with red beans, honey and soy sauce.
- Italy: The turkey stays front and center on many Italian tables, but it might be seasoned with a more traditional seasoning blend, such as juniper berries, rosemary and sage. Sausage stuffing is also popular.
- Mexico: On many tables, a suckling pig replaces the traditional turkey.
- Poland: In addition to turkey, many Polish families serve kielbasa, meatballs in mushroom gravy, pierogi and other favorites.
Monday, November 21, 2011
New Wisconsin Law Protects Facilities from "Double Jeopardy"
Under a new law, Wisconsin nursing homes will have more time to pay penalties for citations and will be protected from receiving multiple citations on the same violation. Currently, homes can be cited twice - once by the state and once by federal authorities - for the same infraction.
The new law also gives Wisconsin greater authority to revoke nursing home licenses and sue facilities for violating federal laws.
To learn more, click here.
The new law also gives Wisconsin greater authority to revoke nursing home licenses and sue facilities for violating federal laws.
To learn more, click here.
Friday, November 18, 2011
FDA Revokes Avastin for Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment
Avastin, a popular drug among women with advanced breast cancer, has been revoked by the FDA because there is no proof that it extends the lives of patients who take it and it presents dangerous side effects, including severe high blood pressure, massive bleeding, heart attack or failure and organ perforation.
Avastin is the world's best-selling cancer drug and is also used to treat forms of colon, lung, kidney and brain cancers. The FDA has not revoked it for treatment of those forms of cancer, just breast cancer.
CMS announced that Medicare will continue to cover the drug, but will also monitor the issue and evaluate coverage options as a result of the FDA's actions.
Avastin's manufacturer, Roche, plans to pursue a new Phase III study of Avastin in combination with the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel in previously untreated metastatic breast cancer.
To learn more, click here.
Avastin is the world's best-selling cancer drug and is also used to treat forms of colon, lung, kidney and brain cancers. The FDA has not revoked it for treatment of those forms of cancer, just breast cancer.
CMS announced that Medicare will continue to cover the drug, but will also monitor the issue and evaluate coverage options as a result of the FDA's actions.
Avastin's manufacturer, Roche, plans to pursue a new Phase III study of Avastin in combination with the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel in previously untreated metastatic breast cancer.
To learn more, click here.
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